The 2023–24 season was Hibernian's seventh season of play back in the top flight of Scottish football, having been promoted from the Scottish Championship at the end of the 2016–17 season.[1] Hibs reached the play-off round of the 2023–24 UEFA Europa Conference League,[2] the League Cup semi-finals, and the Scottish Cup quarter-finals, but two managers were sacked as the club finished in the bottom half of the Premiership.
Win Draw Loss Postponed
In addition to the friendly matches played in pre-season, Hibs also played in a testimonial match for Raith Rovers player Lewis Vaughan in March 2024.[3]
Hibs manager Lee Johnson was sacked by the club on 27 August, following a third consecutive defeat to start the Premiership season.[4] After one league game with David Gray as caretaker, Nick Montgomery was appointed on 11 September.[5] Montgomery was himself sacked on 14 May, following a 4–0 home defeat to Aberdeen and failure to finish in the top half of the league.[6]
Having qualified for European competition, Hibs received a bye to the second round (last 16) of the League Cup.[8] At that stage they were drawn at home to Championship club Raith Rovers.[9] A much-changed Hibs side won 2–1 to set up a home quarter-final against St Mirren.[10][11] Two late goals by Martin Boyle won that tie, which sent Hibs to a semi-final against Aberdeen.[12]
As a Premiership club, Hibs entered the Scottish Cup in the fourth round (last 32) and were drawn away to League Two club Forfar Athletic.[13] After "labouring" to a 1–0 win at Station Park,[14] Hibs were drawn away again in the fifth round at Championship side Inverness Caledonian Thistle.[15] They progressed through that round more comfortably, winning 3–1.[16] Hibs were drawn at home to Rangers in the quarter-finals, their first Scottish Cup meeting since the 2016 final.[17] They lost this tie 2–0, with two players were sent off midway through the second half.[18]
Having finished fifth in the 2022–23 Scottish Premiership, Hibs qualified for the 2023–24 UEFA Europa Conference League when league champions Celtic also won the Scottish Cup.[19][20] In the second qualifying round, Hibs were paired with the winner of an earlier tie between Faroese and Andorran teams.[21] After an embarrassing first leg defeat to the Andorran side Inter Club d'Escaldes, Hibs progressed to the next round with a comfortable aggregate by winning 6–1 in the return game.[22] In the third qualifying round, Hibs produced an impressive 3–1 home win against Swiss club Luzern and backed that up by drawing 2–2 in the second away leg.[23] This set up a play-off tie against Premier League club Aston Villa, where Hibs suffered an 8–0 aggregate defeat.[24]